Destructo Swarmbots was born from the imagination of Mike Mare, who remains the stalwart captain of the vessel that endlessly explores the furthermost reaches of experimental music. Born and raised in New York City, Mare started Swarmbots in 2001. Influenced by the sound of the city, and generally not intrigued by what was happening in music, the first Swarmbots sounds were ear-blistering instrumental manifestos hoping to decapitate whatever they came in contact with.
Never wanting to impose conventions on his music, Mare has allowed Swarmbots to grow at it's own pace and on it's own terms. This has led to unique opportunities, including the inclusion of member Joshua Booth. As a former member of All Natural Lemon Lime Flavors, classical composer and music professor at Rutgers University, Booth is a core part of the group's sound. The duo of Mare and Booth, working together as Swarmbots, also joined the group Dälek, touring the world pulling double-duty shifts in both groups.
Currently, Mare and Booth both compose music for Swarmbots while Mare tours independently. The recorded material as well as the live performances continue to change and progress, with added tortured rhythmic elements actually making showgoers dance (where they use to just stare in hypnotic fear).
It's hard to find a review of a Destructo Swarmbots album that doesn't include the adjective "cinematic" in relation to the sound. Naturally, soundscapes and film scores have been a natural progression for Mare, who has recently completed music for the films Lay Me Down by Shinako Sudo, which is currently traveling the festival circuit and Cipher by Neil Kendricks (The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA).
Besides television, commercial and film work, Mare has been working on collaborations and remixes. 2009 saw the release of MGR y Destructo Swarmbots (Neurot Recordings), a collaboration between Mare and Mike Gallagher of ISIS fame. Destructo Swarmbots remixes include: ISIS, Genghis Tron, Darsombra, Goes Cube, Thrushes, and Action Beat, among others.
Live performances continue to a place of exploration and experimentation for Mare. While he performs independently as Destructo Swarmbots, he also uses the opportunity to collaborate with many others, including Oddateee, Action Beat, Darsombra, Guilty Connector and Griots & Gods(the collaboration of The Young Gods and Dälek).
It's unclear what opportunities will come next for Destructo Swarmbots, scoring films, performing with an orchestra, making people dance to drone/pop.... Whatever happens, the music will continue to live a life of it's own.
“Spaced-out psychedelic ambient noise, a droning, drifting soundscape for journeys through the far, frozen reaches of outer space, or perhaps a journey to the center of your mind; either way, this is truly excellent music for zoning out. The man's droning psych pimp hand is strong...!” -Dead Angel
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Destructo Swarmbots @ Levontin 7 Tel Aviv, Israel October 2007
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"With a name like that, Queens, NY drone wielder Mike Mare’s brainchild would be better off laser gunning Daleks in 'Doctor Who'. New outing 'Clear Light' is quite a chilly affair. On the monumental 40-minute opener ‘Banta’, Mare’s concoction from his arsenal of prepared instruments and textural archives twist and chirp before the intense ‘drifting vessel’ drone in the background takes a life of its own and navigates dead subterranean passages before settling in the tundra stillness of detached Arctic permafrost.
Next, ‘Phases’ delivers a warmer tone amidst the background machinery samples and a persistent, stringent guitar scrape that Khanate/Phantomsmasher/Khlyst sonic agitator James Plotkin, here on mastering duties, would deliver a nod to. But the serrated edginess is still there on ‘Fireberry’, a lingering perception that a great mental distance has been travelled here. Another handiwork, somewhere between Fear Falls Burning and Birchville Cat Motel, that should claim its slot in your ambient drone collection." - Terrorizer
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“Clear Light is a realised and strong piece of sonic composition, which constantly breathes torment yet somehow manages to evoke elation through the use of softer melodic hums. Forming itself around you like a cocoon of noise it’ll absorb your attention if you give it the time, place and patience.” -Rock-a-Rolla
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“...a dark field of screaming acid-guitar leads peeled off over an oozing drone pulse and sheets of shimmering starlit keyboard... a monstrous gleaming driftscape of slowly blossoming washes of heavy distorted feedback and fuzzy amplifier buzz coursing out across the heavens while mournful minor key synths and strains of wah-pedal whoosh streak through the layers of buzz and drone, ending in a flurry of melted melodies... some of his most isolationist droneworks yet.” -Crucialblast.net
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Destructo Swarmbots @ North Six Brooklyn, NY May 2006
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"Destructo Swarmbots' brilliant, dark noise follows the lead of composures like Cabaret Voltaire in creating sinister soundscapes that are powerful enough to evoke images of insects tunneling through dirt, of the bodies decaying beneath them and the untold stories of the world's darkest corners. Essential for lovers of the new noise."--Punk Planet ***************************************************************************
"Noise comes in all textures and tones, but there's something truly unique about Destructo Swarmbots' experimentation. Somewhere between the creaking ambiance of Larsen and the incessantly clipping Xela, Destructo Swarmbots will ruin your life." -XLR8R
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Destructo Swarmbots @ The Talking Head Baltimore, MD January 2005
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"Slightly dark (murky, let’s say) industro-ambient tracks that sound, collectively, like either a subway train made of tinfoil falling off the side of a mountain (no, I do not know how a tinfoil subway train would find itself on the side of a mountain) or a rainy day on a haunted beach in a world populated by transistor radios that try and tune in humans, instead of the other way around. Or, perhaps, these songs sound like the shower scene from Psycho as performed by the tiny accordion players that live in the air ducts at the vacuum cleaner factory. I mean, choose your illusion, bro. All I can tell you for certain is that this sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a suicide, so I would avoid this particular EP if yer the sad sack type, because it’ll drive you right over the edge with it’s skittering guitar string scrapes and ice man groans and dying penguin bleeps. Me, I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky character, and even I am sitting here with rivulets of blood running down my wrists. Is that an accolade or a condemnation? I dunno, maybe both. Hard to say, what with the blood loss, and all."--Sleazegrinder
I saw your show (with Isis) at Dachstock in Bern yesterday. I need to repeat what I said on Lastfm: To experience this music live is a true journey to your inner self! Awesome, transcending, breath-taking, low-frequent, high-frequent, vibrating, brain-massaging, ..., simply UNBELIEVABLE! Thank you. *
I am now recording for a new set of releases called the "Persona
Series". These cassettes will be commissioned works (not by content,
but by payment) for individuals. If John Smith in London, England
wants his own Zebulon Kosted album, I will make a 45 minute album (one
side of a 90 minute tape), 2 hand drawn mini posters, I will name the
album after him (Zebulon Kosted - John Smith), and the fan will retain
all rights to the recording (for use of any future release, sampling,
or broadcasting rights). One copy of the album will remain in my
personal collection, and one will be sent to the customer, so that the
only copy that will be in circulation will be John Smiths copy! Each
album is available for the ridiculously low price of $10 (not including
shipping), and will be shipped in its completed form no later than 6
weeks from the date of purchase!!!
Hey fellow humans,
PAS sends it kind regards your way and would like to invite you to our next performances in Brooklyn.
Thursday: 06/18/2009 10:00 PM - The Wreck Room-Bushwick, Brooklyn
940 Flushing Ave, (between Central Ave & Evergreen Ave)
Brooklyn, New York 11206
US
Cost:$5
Description:line-up: THURS JUNE 18: PAS (Post Abortion Stress) Womb Rippers Calves Ghoul Poon
Friday: 06/19/2009 08:00 PM - Goodbye Blue Monday
1087 Broadway
Brooklyn, New York
US
Cost:N/A
Description:PAS 10 PM The Invisible Hand 11 PM Others TBA
Αληθινός άνθρωπος / ορχήστρα, ο 30χρονος Yoav – Εβραϊκής καταγωγής, μεγαλωμένος στο Cape Town της Νότιας Αφρικής και με έδρα, τα τελευταία χρόνια, τη Βρετανία – ξεκίνησε να ασχολείται με τη μουσική από πολύ μικρή ηλικία. Από την πρώιμη κλασσική παιδεία που του προσέδωσε η οικογένειά του (η μητέρα του είναι τραγουδίστρια της όπερας) μέχρι να φτάσει να θεωρείται σήμερα ως ο “πρώτος dance / folk / techno / pop τραγουδοποιός, ο Yoav διέγραψε μια πορεία η οποία χαρακτηρίζεται από ποικίλες, συχνά ετερόκλητες, επιρροές και μετακινήσεις από τη μία “μουσική πρωτεύουσα” στην άλλη, σε αναζήτηση της πολυπόθητης επιτυχίας.
Οι πόρτες θα ανοίξουν στις 21:00 και εισιτήρια προπωλούνται, προς 30 ευρώ, στο Ticket House (Πανεπιστημίου 42 / τηλ. 210 3608366) και το www.ticketpro.gr.
THE VEILS ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ 5 ΙΟΥΝΙΟΥ 2009
Doors Open: 21:00 / Τιμή Εισιτηρίου: 25 € Προπώληση: Ticket House + www.ticketpro.gr
H ClipArt και το Gagarin 205 παρουσιάζουν τους υπέροχους Veils. Το συγκρότημα από τη Νέα Ζηλανδία – το οποίο έχει ως “έδρα” του, εδώ και χρόνια, το Λονδίνο – θα βρεθεί στην Αθήνα, για πρώτη φορά, το βράδυ της Παρασκευής 5 Ιουνίου, στο Gagarin 205 Live Music Space.
Online Now!
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